The Gleaning by Kling Heidi R

Author:Kling, Heidi R. [Kling, Heidi R.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Young Adult, Fantasy
Goodreads: 16032159
Publisher: Coliloquy, LLC
Published: 2012-10-01T06:00:00+00:00

“So, Miss Rose, do you now believe in magic?” William looked down at me with a sly smile.

“I always have,” I said, retreating back to the present.

He cocked his head, and I observed again how very handsome he looked in his top hat. “I’m surprised.”

“Are you? Why?”

“I didn’t think many average humans believed,” he said with a rise of his brow.

“What is there not to believe? I find it is only a fool who doubts what can not be proven untrue, don’t you agree?”

“Of course.”

“There is so much…unexplained in this world. I cannot imagine one saying, ‘I believe this to be true without an inkling of doubt but I have no proof!’ It goes round the same way with the opposite. With the not believing.”

He leaned in. “And if something is proven true?”

I shrugged. “I don’t necessarily need proof, sir. But this…is certainly delightful to see.” I opened my palms up to show off the floating roses, candelabras, dancing magic.

“You surprise me, Rose.”

“I do. How?”

He paused as if carefully considering his words. “How are you able to self-deceive like that? I don’t mean to be rude, but human girls tend to not be as interesting as the girls who practice magic. And you Rose, are an interesting girl. May I confess something to you?” Before waiting for me to answer, he asked anyway. “I didn’t want to come out with you tonight.”

“I understood that from the moment we met.”

“You knew?” William’s face reddened and his brow knitted with what looked like guilt. “I apologize. It’s just that Father had sent me on so many of these dates lately. You see, he insists I marry a mortal girl. It’s entirely out of the question. Warlocks marry witches, it’s how it’s always been.” He lowered his voice. “I’m telling you this, Rose, because something about you makes me trust you. I can trust you, can’t I, Rose?”

Why would his father, a powerful warlock, encourage his son to marry a magic-less woman? It made no sense. It was equally nonsensical for him to ask me. But for some reason I felt compelled to listen to this warlock’s confession, never mind flattered that he wanted to share something so personal with me, in that moment, a total stranger.

“Yes,” I said. “You can trust me.”

As if reading my thoughts, the warlock leaned forward. “It would be a shame to let all this wonder go to waste. May I have this dance?”

I sucked in a breath, nodding as he leaned forward, close, so close to my chest that I could feel his warm breath on my throat as my chest rose and fell.

“You may,” I said.

He bowed to me, and I curtsied, with the full of my skirt, and in this room I felt confident and strong.

The magic filled my heart, my stomach, and my blood with dancing faeries and though the night was cold, I felt the content flush of lying in freshly cut grass. The deeply relaxed feeling of melting deep into soft silky strands of brilliant green under an intense summer sun.

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